"Ji Yuzhe!"
Feng Suyin's voice pulled him from his deep thoughts. He turned to her blankly, wondering if what Feng Yilan had said was a ruse to put a wedge between him and Feng Suyin.
Hearing the hesitation and doubt in her tone, a possibility surfaced in his heart. Maybe she hadn't known about his confession years ago. He could feel his palms sweating as he struggled to find the right words. He could feel her gaze bore into his soul, searching for answers he wasn't sure he was ready to give.
He shook his head.
Nothing he could do to change the past. Even if Feng Suyin hadn't known, the fact that she ended up with Ji Hanjun proved he didn't have a chance. Ji Hanjun had befriended her easily. They got along very well—unlike him, whose only interactions with Feng Suyin were about school activities and group projects.
But deep in his heart, he knew he couldn't let go of the feelings that had taken root years ago.
With only a few weeks remaining, this woman before him would become someone else's wife. Ji Yuzhe had yet to make peace with it. He had tried to drown himself in alcohol, hoping it would numb the pain and quiet the turmoil in his heart. But no amount of alcohol could erase the memories of her laughter. The way her eyes sparkled when she smiled. The warmth he felt whenever she was near.
When he remained silent, Feng Suyin sat back and lowered her gaze.
"I'm sorry, Ji Yuzhe. You wouldn't be in this condition if it weren't for me. I shouldn't have made assumptions about you based on what Ji Hanjun and Feng Yilan said."
Ji Yuzhe clenched his fists. His suspicion about Feng Yilan's lies fell into place as he listened to Feng Suyin's apologetic words. His heart raced as he realized the extent of the deception that had entangled them all these years.
"It's not your fault. It was me who didn't pay attention to my surroundings. I shouldn't have let my guard down." He refused to look at her face.
He didn't think he could keep his feelings secret if she kept showing him concern. He had tried to keep his distance for so many years. He watched her love another man and convinced himself that he didn't deserve to be loved by anyone.
He was the bastard son of his father from one of his mistresses. His mother was a C-rated actress who succumbed to alcohol addiction after she was abandoned by Ji Yuzhe's father—her dreams crumbling before her.
But as the truth began to unravel before him, Ji Yuzhe felt a surge of hope blossoming in his chest.
Could it be that Feng Suyin's heart was not as out of reach as he had once thought?
No.
He immediately dismissed the idea. Feng Suyin wasn't someone who changed her mind in a heartbeat—especially not for someone like him. She had chosen Ji Hanjun. He had to respect that.
He took a deep breath and turned his head toward Feng Suyin.
He missed seeing her face. But he didn't regret sacrificing his eyesight for her to live. What he could see now was her silhouette against the moonlight streaming from the window—a soft glow around her figure. His hand itched to touch her, to feel her. But he knew he had no right.
"I need to know, Ji Yuzhe..." Feng Suyin's voice was tinged with vulnerability. "I think you are the only person who could at least be honest with me."
Ji Yuzhe furrowed his brows.
Something must have happened for her to come to his place and question him like this. He could sense the unease in her voice. He wished he could do something to ease her anxiety. Despite his turmoil, he knew he couldn't turn her away.
"Why do you want to know?"
"Because Ji Hanjun is cheating on me with my sister." Feng Suyin dropped the bomb without hesitation. "I overheard them talking about the lies they've told to take advantage of me."
Ji Yuzhe could sense the hesitation in her voice, but he waited patiently for her to continue.
"I think... they're the ones responsible for the fire at the old lab. And they are planning to do it again to get rid of me."
Chills ran down Ji Yuzhe's spine.
His mind raced as he processed her shocking revelation. The pieces of the puzzle were finally fitting together. The truth was more sinister than he could have ever imagined. His suspicions about Ji Hanjun and Feng Yilan had been confirmed. The weight of it all bore down on him.
"What do you plan to do then? Are you going to report them to the authorities?"
Feng Suyin shook her head and sighed.
"We both know that proving my claim wouldn't be easy. I overheard them, but I need more than words to bring them down." She paused. "I do have a recording of their affair. But the fire? The explosion? That's harder to prove."
Ji Yuzhe's eyebrows rose. A recording.
She continued, "If I go to the authorities now, Ji Hanjun and Feng Yilan will find a way to twist the truth and make me look like the villain. I need more."
"But what about your wedding? Aren't you supposed to marry Ji Hanjun in a few weeks?"
Feng Suyin laughed mirthlessly.
"How could I marry someone who wants me dead?" A bitter smile on her lips. "I cannot go through with this wedding knowing what they have done and what they are planning to do."
She paused and looked away. A myriad of thoughts raced through her mind.
"You must think I'm stupid. For many years, I was deluded into thinking the Feng family would eventually accept me. That Ji Hanjun's feelings were real. I should have known better than to trust them. But now, I am left with nothing but the realization that I have been living a lie." Her voice wavered with emotion. Tears threatened to spill.
"No." Ji Yuzhe's voice was soft but firm. "I don't think you're stupid at all. In fact, I think you're courageous for facing this head-on and not backing down."
He wished he could take all the pain from her. See her smile again. But he knew it was impossible. He could only support her in whatever decision she made—so long as he could assure her she would be safe.
Out of harm's way.
"Then let me help you," he said quietly. "You're not alone in this anymore."